Temporary Detention Center for Foreigners to Be Built in Former Raudas School

The State Agency for Providing (NVA) has announced that a temporary detention center for foreigners will be established by September this year. Currently, demolition work is underway, along with the setup of premises and procurement of necessary equipment.

The center will be located in the former Raudas school building, approximately 40 kilometers from Daugavpils. Its purpose is to ensure fast and efficient identity, security, and health checks for foreigners, in compliance with EU and international human rights standards. The center will be semi-closed, and foreigners will not be allowed to leave it arbitrarily. They will stay only during initial checks.

The center will feature furnished living rooms with sanitary facilities, a kitchen, a recreation room, and a gym. In the fenced area, there will be a sports field, a children's playground, and rest zones. Smart video surveillance and alarm systems will be installed. The capacity is 106 people.

To ensure the center's operation, the State Border Guard will establish a new unit with 36 employees, creating new jobs in the region. The total project cost is 4,357,463 euros, of which 75% (3,268,097 euros) is funded by the European Union and 25% (1,089,366 euros) from the Latvian state budget. The project is implemented by the NVA, the State Border Guard, and the Information Center of the Ministry of the Interior, using EU funds for border management. It is part of the implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.